RESOLUTION NO. 316
A RESOLUTION APPROVING AN INCREASE AND IMPROVEMENT OF FACILITIES OF THE ALBANY COUNTY WATER PURIFICATION DISTRICT IN THE COUNTY OF ALBANY, NEW YORK
Introduced: 9/14/26
By Public Works Committee:
Recitals
WHEREAS, Pursuant to proceedings heretofore had and taken in accordance with the provisions of Article 5-A of the New York County Law, including approving orders of the State Comptroller, the Albany County Sewer District, has heretofore been established, and
WHEREAS, In October 2017, the name of the Albany County Sewer District was changed to the Albany County Water Purification District (the “District”); and
WHEREAS, The County of Albany (the “County”) has heretofore authorized the North and South Plant HVAC Upgrade Project (the “HVAC Upgrade Project”), which includes the study, design, and construction of improvements to existing HVAC systems at both the North and South Treatment Plants, expected to be completed in accordance with the engineering evaluation being prepared for the District by CHA Consulting Inc., Albany, New York, as part of the County’s 2025-2029 Capital Plan; and
WHEREAS, On September 8, 2025 the County Legislature adopted an amending bond resolution authorizing bonds in the principal amount of $1,500,000 for the HVAC Upgrade Project; and
WHEREAS, It has been determined that the estimated cost of said HVAC Upgrade Project has increased from $1,500,000 to $2,000,000 and that it is necessary and in the public interest to include such increase of $500,000 as part of the County’s 2027-2031 Capital Plan and to amend the bond resolution heretofore adopted for such project by a like amount; and
WHEREAS, Following a determination that certain upgrades to the District’s treatment facilities are necessary and in the public interest, the County has determined to undertake the design and installation of (1) an odor control system for the North Plant’s sludge holding tanks (the “Odor Control System Project”), expected to be completed in accordance with an engineering evaluation to be prepared for the District, at an estimated cost of $2,000,000 and (ii) a gas monitoring and alarming system at various buildings at the North and South Treatment Plants (the “Gas Monitoring System Project”), expected to be completed in accordance with an engineering evaluation to be prepared for the District, at an estimated cost of $750,000; and
WHEREAS, Such Odor Control System Project and Gas Monitoring System Project have been included in the County’s 2027-2031 Capital Plan and are expected to be financed by the issuance of County bonds; however, the County is currently evaluating other funding options for the Odor Control System Project, including funding said project through the revolving loan fund program of the State of New York Environmental Facilities Corporation (EFC) or from other sources, including grants, and any such grants and/or other funds when received will be applied toward the cost of said Odor Control System Project or redemption of the County bonds or notes issued therefor; and
WHEREAS, Said County Legislature duly adopted Resolution No. 128 on April 13, 2026, calling a meeting of the County Legislature for the purpose of holding a public hearing on the aforesaid increase and improvement of facilities in accordance with said engineering evaluation and/or estimates of cost; and
WHEREAS, Such Resolution authorized and directed the Clerk of said County Legislature to publish the notice of public hearing and to file a certified copy of the Notice of Public Hearing with the respective Clerks of the City of Albany, City of Cohoes, City of Watervliet, Village of Green Island, Village of Menands, Village of Colonie and the Town of Colonie and Town of Guilderland, together with a detailed summary of the projected debt service costs of the proposed projects and an estimate of the annual debt service charge for each municipality as determined in accordance with the provisions of each municipalities’ respective intermunicipal agreement from 1970 with the Albany County Sewer District; and
WHEREAS, Said public hearing was duly held at the William J. Conboy II Legislative Chambers, Albany County Courthouse, Albany, New York at 7:00 o’clock P.M. (Prevailing Time) on Tuesday, April 26, 2026; and
WHEREAS, Notice of said public hearing was duly published and filed in the manner provided herein and proof thereof was submitted to said County Legislature; and
WHEREAS, Said County Legislature has duly considered the evidence given at such public hearing;
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT
RESOLVED, BY THE COUNTY LEGISLATURE OF THE COUNTY OF ALBANY, NEW YORK, AS FOLLOWS:
Section 1. Upon the evidence given at the aforesaid public hearing, it is hereby found and determined that it is in the public interest to proceed with the expenditure for the increase and improvement of the facilities of the District, all as more fully described in the recitals hereof, and such increase and improvement of facilities is hereby authorized at a maximum estimated cost of $4,750,000, including the $1,500,000 heretofore authorized for the HVAC Upgrade Project.
Section 2. The design and/or improvements described in the recitals hereof are authorized to be undertaken and/or constructed and the cost thereof shall be allocated in accordance with the provisions of the respective intermunicipal agreements from 1970 between the Albany County Water Purification District (formerly the Albany County Sewer District) and the City of Albany, City of Cohoes, City of Watervliet, Village of Green Island, Village of Menands, Village of Colonie and the Town of Colonie and Town of Guilderland. The allocation of the annual expense of operation and maintenance shall also be determined in accordance with the provisions of the aforesaid respective agreements.
Section 3. A certified copy of this Resolution shall be recorded in the office of the Clerk of Albany County and in the Department of Audit and Control in Albany, New York within ten (10) days after adoption hereof.
Section 4. This resolution shall take effect immediately.